Apparatus for applying plastic film material to a glass sheet

Abstract

Apparatus for applying plastic film material to a glass sheet has a first roller mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and having a rubber-like surface and a diameter of at least about 30 inches (75 cm). A second roller is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis adjacent to the first roller to form a nip between the first and second rollers. A length of plastic film material having adhesive on one surface is supplied under controlled tension to the first roller at a position remote from the second roller, with the opposite surface of the film material in contact with the first roller, to cause the film material to pass around a substantial portion of the circumference of the first roller to a position adjacent the second roller. The glass sheet is fed through the nip to cause the second roller to press the glass sheet towards the first roller and cause the film material to be adhered to the glass sheet.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for applying plastic film material having a thickness in the range of from about 0.001 to about 0.01 inch to a glass sheet comprising a first roller mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said first roller having a rubber-like surface and a diameter of at least about 30 inches (75 cm), means for rotating the roller about its longitudinal axis, a second roller mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis adjacent to the first roller to form a nip between the first and second rollers, means for supplying a length of said plastic film material having adhesive on one surface under controlled tension to said first roller at a position remote from the second roller, with the opposite surface of the film material in contact with the first roller, to cause the film material to pass around a substantial portion of the circumference of the first roller to a position adjacent the second roller, and means for feeding the glass sheet through the nip to cause the second roller to press the glass sheet towards the first roller and cause the film material to be adhered to the glass. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first roller has a diameter of at least about 30 inches (75 cm) and not more than about 50 inches (125 cm). 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to the approach of a leading edge and subsequent approach of a trailing edge of a glass sheet to the nip to move the second roller towards and away from the first roller when the leading edge is in the nip and when the trailing edge is in the nip respectively. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including rotating means including a slipping clutch tending to rotate the second roller at a circumferential speed slightly greater than the circumferential speed of the first roller to cause a glass sheet travelling through the nip to tend to travel at a speed slightly greater than the speed of the film material and thereby control the tension in said film material. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the film material supply means comprises a liquid adhesive applicator having a liquid adhesive reservoir, means for maintaining liquid adhesive at a predetermined level in the reservoir, a lower roller having a lower portion dipping into the adhesive in the reservoir, means for rotating the lower roller, an upper roller adjacent the lower roller, said film material passing between the upper and lower rollers to cause adhesive to be applied to a surface of the film material, and means for adjustably positioning the upper roller relative to the lower roller to adjust its spacing from the lower roller. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the film material supply means comprises a liquid adhesive applicator having a liquid adhesive reservoir, means for maintaining liquid adhesive at predetermined level in the reservoir, a lower roller having a lower portion dipping into the adhesive in the reservoir, means for rotating the lower roller, an upper roller adjacent the lower roller, said film material passing between the upper and lower rollers to cause adhesive to be applied to a surface of the film material, said lower roller rotating means operating to rotate the lower roller at a circumferential speed slightly greater than the film to build up a wedge-shaped body of adhesive between the film and the lower roller.